New leader

After 18 years, Germany’s ruling Christian Democratic Union has a new leader. On 29 October, following catastrophic results in recent state elections and flagging poll numbers, German Chancellor, Angela Merkel, chose to resign as the CDU leader. Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer was elected to succeed her in early December. A close ally of Angela Merkel’s – who officially backed her during the succession campaign –, Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer is an economic centrist in favour of Germany’s minimum wage, but has conservative social views.

ruling au pouvoir / flagging en déclin / poll sondage / to resign démissionner (de son poste de) / ally allié / to back soutenir / wage salaire.